How to choose the best laptop peripherals.
(Compute's Getting Started with Portable Computing) (Buyers Guide)
by Peter Scisco

Choosing the right laptop peripherals can be as important as selecting the
system itself. You want to choose products that work seamlessly with your
laptop, give you good value, and provide needed services.

Before you go out shopping for peripherals, define clearly what you're going
to do with your new laptop. Is it mostly for writing? Creating
presentations? Calculating sales information? Your intended use will dictate
what peripherals are essential and will even suggest the best places to make
your purchases.

Wide Open Spaces

If you think of the laptop you own now as the incredible shrinking machine,
you should consider adding a hard disk or increasing your hard disk space.

Your first step is a call to the manufacturer. Confirm that there's a hard
disk available for your laptop. Get details such as model number and product
name--they'll come in handy if you go shopping by mail. If the drive is sold
through computer dealer stores (not mail-order outfits), ask if there's a
direct price available from the manufacturer. Sometimes, though it's rare,
the vendor will sell a peripheral direct at less than retail.

You should probably plan to have the vendor's service center install your hard
disk. Either that, or have the dealer install it at the point of purchase.
The insides of a laptop computer are incredibly crowded. Some projects that
would be simple in a desktop computer--such as hard drives--are better left to
the experts for laptops.

Now I Remember

Although it's not as critical as hard disk space, some extra memory can do
your laptop wonders. If you're buying a new machine, try to get at least 2
megabytes. Don't buy a machine that can't be upgraded at least that far. If
you already own a machine, check with the manufacturer to see if the amount of
onboard memory can be increased.

Extra memory is becoming necessary for many software applications, and is
absolutely needed if you plan to run Windows. If you plan to stick to DOS
applications, you can use the extra memory as a cache to increase the speed of
your existing applications, or as a RAM disk for storing data. For big-name
laptops, you can probably pick up memory modules through mail-order houses.
Otherwise, you'll have to buy from the original vendor.

Laptop Call Home

If you plan to do a lot of telecommunicating on the road, you should
definitely get an internal modem for your portable computer. In most cases,
internal modems are sold by the original manufacturer; however, some
third-party companies will sell compatible internal modems for specific
big-name laptops, such as Toshibas.

If you are only an occasional user of information services or have limited
need to dial into remove offices, you're better off with a pocket modem. That
way, you'll only have to carry it when you really need it.

An internal modem has the disadvantage of adding weight and--on some older
models--using system resources. On the other hand, it's always available
whenever you need it.

A pocket modem has the advantage of being able to work with your desktop
computer andcan be an optional accessory, which lessens the weight of your
load. If you decide to purchase a pocket modem, select one that draws its
power from the telephone line, not one that requires batteries.

Playing the Point

Graphics-based applications, such as those running under Windows, and many
DOS-based applications, make use of a mouse for accepting commands. On some
programs, it's an absolute necessity.

But you no longer have to lug along the mouse from your desktop computer,
thanks to portable mice from Logitech and Microsoft. Essentially, these
devices are miniature trackballs that you manipulate with your thumb. Other
companies also make portable input devices, including mouse pens and
joysticks. But before buying a nonstandard device, it would be a good idea to
take one for a test drive to make sure it suits your work style.

Key to the Highway

If your portable computer serves as your home office machine, an external
keyboard should be high on your list. You can get very good keyboards--such
as Northgate's OmniKey--for around $100. Your hands will thank you.